Cartoonists’ & free speech orgs in support of LeMan magazine

From Cartoonists Rights International.

The undersigned are appalled by the victimization of staff at LeMan humor magazine, Istanbul in recent days, following the publication June 26th of a cartoon strip by Doğan Pehlevan, the content, meaning, and intent of which has been distorted by government officials in Turkey, leading to inaccurate media coverage and misguided public outrage and, ultimately, four jailed on multiple charges, two more colleagues wanted by police, and the entire entity under investigation for accepting foreign influence.

• Association of Canadian Cartoonists / L’Association de caricaturistes Canadien
• Daryl Cagle – Cagle Cartoons, Inc. (Newspaper Syndicate)
• Cartoon Movement
• Cartooning for Peace
• Cartoonists Rights
• Columbia Global Freedom of Expression
• European Cartoon Award
• Forum for Humour and the Law (ForHum)
• Freedom Cartoonists Foundation
• Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC Strategy
• Professional Cartoonists’ Organisation (PCO)
• ToonsMag

Editorial Cartoonist Steve Benson dies at 71

From the Arizona Mirror. 

Steve Benson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist known for his sharp wit and incisive commentary on American politics, has died at the age of 71.

After being laid off by The Arizona Republic in 2019, Benson joined the Arizona Mirror, shortly after the nonprofit digital news outlet launched. 

He continued to produce thought-provoking cartoons for the Mirror until his retirement in 2024, capping off a remarkable career that spanned nearly half a century.

The Baltimore Sun sets for Kal

From Substack.

I am disappointed to announce that after 31 years of award-winning cartoons in The Baltimore Sun, I was abruptly dismissed from the paper on Friday.

It was just a matter of time.

In February of 2024, David Smith, the conservative owner of the Sinclair Broadcasting group purchased the struggling paper. 

As my politics do not align with the new owners, I assumed my days were numbered. 

Clashes and arrests in Turkey over LeMan cartoon

From The Guardian.

-Peace be with you Muhammed! -Peace be with you Moses...

Turkish prosecutor orders arrests at LeMan magazine over allegation of depicting prophet Muhammad.

Clashes erupted in Istanbul with police firing rubber bullets and teargas to disperse a mob on Monday after Istanbul’s chief prosecutor ordered the arrest of the editors at LeMan magazine on grounds it had published a cartoon that “publicly insulted religious values”.

The magazine’s editor-in-chief, Tuncay Akgun, said the image had been misinterpreted.

Two million pages seen

 

I would like to warmly thank the readers of this blog for the interest you have shown to it !

Cartoonist Zehra Ömeroglu acquitted

From Cartooning for Peace.

After five long years of proceedings, punctuated by postponements, the Istanbul Court of First Instance finally ruled in favor of acquittal on Thursday, June 26.

The Turkish cartoonist was tried for “obscenity” for a cartoon published in LeMan magazine in 2020 and faced a prison sentence of six months to three years and a fine.

Political Violence in the USA

From Counterpoint.

After the assassination of Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband and the attempted murder of State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, political leaders from across the spectrum issued statements of shock and condolences. 

Many, including Steve Scalise, Nancy Pelosi, Gabby Giffords, Josh Shapiro, Gretchen Whitmer, and Donald Trump, have themselves been victims of political violence or threats in recent years.